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Backyard Maintenance
Over the last 13 weeks Costa has transformed the Tembeleski’s backyard into a beautiful sustainable yard that will provide the family with an array of fruit, vegetables, eggs and even fish.
BACKGROUND
Over the last 13 weeks Costa has transformed the Tembeleski’s backyard into a beautiful sustainable yard that will provide the family with an array of fruit, vegetables, eggs and even fish. And although the garden has been created with a minimum of maintenance required into the future, there are still a few things you need to know to keep the garden healthy and abundant.
TIPS
Aquaponics
• Remember when installing a new system you need to wait about six weeks before introducing fingerlings, or baby fish to the tank, and then in about nine months fish should be on the menu. The reason for the delay is to give the biological filtration system a chance to get established.
• Once the fish have been introduced remember to feed them on a daily basis.
• Check the water level daily.
• On a weekly basis check the pH level of the water to make sure it is at around 7.
• Good things do take a little bit of time, but once the biology is happy, then nature is on your side.
Chooks
• Remember to clean out the coop or pen every week to keep it as hygienic as possible.
• Sprinkle some lice powder over the floor and then replace the straw or Lucerne.
• Every 3 or 4 days replace the water and top up the food. Make sure that the food container is hung just off the ground.
Worm Farm
• Each week add a couple of hand fulls of finely cut green waste to the feeding tray.
• Then add a couple of handfuls of compost.
• Add some water to keep it moist.
• Replace the cover or blanket and moisten it.
• Once a week flood the worm farm with water to entice the worms to come up to the feeding tray to digest the scraps.
• Remember to dilute your worm juice 1 part to 5 parts water and you will be able to enjoy the benefits of your worm farm by simply watering it straight onto your garden.
Compost system
• On a daily basis place your food scraps into an easy to manage container.
• Ensure your food scraps are finely cut.
• Place the food scraps into the compost bin when convenient or when household container gets full.
• Add a layer of dried leaves and twigs.
• Add some water.
• On top of that add some broken down green waste, then some healthy garden soil, and chicken poo or pellets.
• Add another good spray of water and your compost will have all the nutrients it needs to start breaking down food scraps.
• As a general rule anything organic can be added to compost, but avoid adding meat that will smell and attract pests.
• Remember to keep an eye on your bin to ensure the balance between the green and brown materials is right. Too many kitchen scraps and it might become smelly, so if this happens add some drier ingredients. If it’s too dry, nothing will happen, so add some green materials and or some water.
• Keep your compost bin well aerated, plenty of air will help the breaking down process. A good rule of thumb is to turn the compost every time you add scraps to it.
• You can always add compost activators such as comfrey and yarrow to help what’s inside break down more quickly.
• Once the compost bin is full give the compost a turn every week and after about 8 – 10 weeks you will have compost to spread all over your garden.
• Once your first bin is full and maturing, you will need to get a second bin to deal with your ongoing scraps. This way there is always somewhere for your scraps to go, and you will now be making compost in stereo…let the addiction begin.
Water Tanks
• Ensure that the first flush diverter is cleaned on a regular basis. Just unscrew the cap, remove the ball and give both the filter and ball a good rinse.
• Remove the strainer on top of the tank, remove any leaves or other foreign objects, give it a rinse & replace.
Pruning
Vegie Garden
Kimbriki Eco House and Garden
The Eco House and Garden situated within Kimbriki Resource Recovery Centre in Ingleside NSW is a sustainability-learning centre, educating children and adults alike on the practical ways they can make a difference at home.
BACKGROUND
The Eco House and Garden situated within Kimbriki Resource Recovery Centre in Ingleside NSW is a sustainability-learning centre, educating children and adults alike on the practical ways they can make a difference at home. Built largely from recycled resources, this eco-oasis was established in 1999, and is run by passionate senior ecologist Pete Rutherford, who conducts workshops on how to apply organic gardening and sustainable living.
The Kimbriki Eco House and Garden is a unique education centre dedicated to exploring how to live in a more sustainable way - a place for you to experience, learn and be inspired.
The Eco House and Garden run workshops for adults and school children as well as corporate training courses. The centre is also available for hire for meetings and events.
Or you may simply like to wander through the garden at your own pace.
The Eco Garden is open Monday – Sunday, 7am-5pm (closed Christmas Day and Good Friday). However, please note that the Eco House and Garden is not staffed at all times.
Senior Eco Gardener and resident expert, Peter Rutherford, is on hand to offer advice and answer your questions during Kimbriki Eco House and Garden’s drop-in time on most Thursdays 2-4pm.
Further Information:
Kimbriki Road, Off Mona Vale Road, Terrey Hills NSW 2084
Ph. (02) 9486 3512
Web: ecohouseandgarden.com.au
Kimbriki Resource & Recovery Centre
Jointly owned by Warringah, Manly, Mosman and Pittwater Councils Kimbriki is a general, solid waste (non-putrescible) landfill and recycling centre operated by Kimbriki Environmental Enterprises Pty Ltd.
BACKGROUND
Jointly owned by Warringah, Manly, Mosman and Pittwater Councils Kimbriki is a general, solid waste (non-putrescible) landfill and recycling centre operated by Kimbriki Environmental Enterprises Pty Ltd.
Kimbriki Resource Recovery Centre is a new breed of what we used to call a tip – it’s at the forefront of sustainable waste management, drastically maximising its recycling and minimising its landfill. It recycles green waste into compost and building waste into gravels and sands on a grand scale. It’s also committed to eco-awareness and sustainability education, running it’s own eco-learning centre within the facility.
By 2010 Kimbriki will have recovered 2 million tonnes of resources. This phenomenal volume has been saved from landfill since recycling began in 1990.
FACTS
• 74 per cent of the waste materials that are brought to Kimbriki are recycled.
• The tip was expected to be full and have to close by the year 2000, but after recycling started here in 1990 almost 2 million tonnes of resources brought here have been recycled meaning landfill can now carry on for about another 60 years.
• Kimbriki receives about 70,000 tonnes of green waste a year and converts it into compost (70,000 tonnes comes in, and after contamination is removed and evaporation takes place, it is converted into about 50,000 tonnes a year).
• Kimbriki receives about 70,000 tonnes of building waste a year and recycles over 90 per cent of it.
Further Information
Kimbriki Road, Off Mona Vale Road, Terrey Hills NSW 2084
Ph. (02) 9486 3512 or (02) 9486 3542
Web: kimbriki.com.au
SBS Shop
Costa’s Garden Odyssey, Series 1 & 2 (DVDs)
Celebrate mother nature’s cycles & seasons and share her secrets of sustainable abundance & well-being.
French Food Safari (Cookbook)
A celebration of the breadth & diversity of French food traditions and a delicious journey into culinary heaven.
